CLAAS tractor product specialist Tanner Whipps returned to Agriculture of America this week to dig deeper into the new tractor lineup the company launched last week at the Farm Progress Show, this time focusing on the problems the redesign was built to solve.
Usable Horsepower, Not Just More of It
Whipps said CLAAS spent extensive time with customers, producers and dealers across North America before designing the new lineup, and the feedback centered less on raw power and more on how to use it.
“They weren’t simply asking for more horsepower,” Whipps said. “They sat down and they said, what can we do to make the horsepower more usable for your farm? Make sure that you’re staying productive every hour of every day.”
Producers pointed to tighter operating windows, larger implements demanding more horsepower and hydraulic capacity, ongoing labor shortages and rising diesel costs. Whipps said CLAAS organized its response around five priorities: field performance, fuel and operational efficiency, cab comfort, connectivity, and support after the sale.
A Lineup Built on One Transmission
Every new CLAAS tractor, from the ARION 6 up through the XERION 12, runs on the CMATIC continuously variable transmission. Whipps said the system is designed to be easy to learn, something he saw firsthand at the show.
“I taught a lot of guys last week, just jumped in, took about five seconds and they were up and running in these machines,” he said.
The ARION 6 builds on an already proven platform with an advanced drivetrain controller that adjusts engine speed to the job rather than running at a fixed RPM. The AXION 8 crosses 300 horsepower for the first time in that frame size, with the AXION 8.290 reaching 313 horsepower through new Dynamic Power engine management. The AXION 9 tops the Axion line at up to 445 horsepower, paired with hydraulic flow up to 98 gallons per minute for larger planters and air seeders, and is available in wheeled or TERRA TRAC configurations. At the top of the lineup, the XERION 12 delivers up to 650 horsepower and up to 142 gallons per minute of hydraulic flow for the largest planters and air seeders on the market.
Connectivity From the Field to the Phone
Whipps said CLAAS Connect is central to the new lineup, giving producers access to machine performance, maintenance status and field activity from a phone or truck at the edge of a field. Inside the cab, the CEBIS Connect interface is built to keep advanced functions accessible without adding complexity.
“Our philosophy is to make sure that the best technology should help the operator make better decisions and get more from the machine without making their day more complicated,” Whipps said.
Listening Beyond the Launch
Whipps also said CLAAS’s ride-and-drive area at the Farm Progress Show, a first for the company there, gave him a chance to hear directly from producers about their operations and challenges beyond the new equipment itself.
“I think overall, just CLAAS in general, we were able to bring that family values and ties that we have from being family owned and we can connect to producers,” he said.
Producers can learn more about the new lineup through their local CLAAS dealer or at claas.com.
CLAAS Tractor Specialist Breaks Down the Thinking Behind the New ARION, AXION and XERION Lineup
CLAAS tractor product specialist Tanner Whipps returned to Agriculture of America this week to dig deeper into the new tractor lineup the company launched last week at the Farm Progress Show, this time focusing on the problems the redesign was built to solve.
Usable Horsepower, Not Just More of It
Whipps said CLAAS spent extensive time with customers, producers and dealers across North America before designing the new lineup, and the feedback centered less on raw power and more on how to use it.
“They weren’t simply asking for more horsepower,” Whipps said. “They sat down and they said, what can we do to make the horsepower more usable for your farm? Make sure that you’re staying productive every hour of every day.”
Producers pointed to tighter operating windows, larger implements demanding more horsepower and hydraulic capacity, ongoing labor shortages and rising diesel costs. Whipps said CLAAS organized its response around five priorities: field performance, fuel and operational efficiency, cab comfort, connectivity, and support after the sale.
A Lineup Built on One Transmission
Every new CLAAS tractor, from the ARION 6 up through the XERION 12, runs on the CMATIC continuously variable transmission. Whipps said the system is designed to be easy to learn, something he saw firsthand at the show.
“I taught a lot of guys last week, just jumped in, took about five seconds and they were up and running in these machines,” he said.
The ARION 6 builds on an already proven platform with an advanced drivetrain controller that adjusts engine speed to the job rather than running at a fixed RPM. The AXION 8 crosses 300 horsepower for the first time in that frame size, with the AXION 8.290 reaching 313 horsepower through new Dynamic Power engine management. The AXION 9 tops the Axion line at up to 445 horsepower, paired with hydraulic flow up to 98 gallons per minute for larger planters and air seeders, and is available in wheeled or TERRA TRAC configurations. At the top of the lineup, the XERION 12 delivers up to 650 horsepower and up to 142 gallons per minute of hydraulic flow for the largest planters and air seeders on the market.
Connectivity From the Field to the Phone
Whipps said CLAAS Connect is central to the new lineup, giving producers access to machine performance, maintenance status and field activity from a phone or truck at the edge of a field. Inside the cab, the CEBIS Connect interface is built to keep advanced functions accessible without adding complexity.
“Our philosophy is to make sure that the best technology should help the operator make better decisions and get more from the machine without making their day more complicated,” Whipps said.
Listening Beyond the Launch
Whipps also said CLAAS’s ride-and-drive area at the Farm Progress Show, a first for the company there, gave him a chance to hear directly from producers about their operations and challenges beyond the new equipment itself.
“I think overall, just CLAAS in general, we were able to bring that family values and ties that we have from being family owned and we can connect to producers,” he said.
Producers can learn more about the new lineup through their local CLAAS dealer or at claas.com.
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